ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Paige Bueckers had 22 points and 11 assists, Jessica Shepard added 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and the Dallas Wings beat the Portland Fire 96-78 on Tuesday night to clinch the final WNBA playoff spot.
Dallas (23-16), which is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2023, set a franchise record for wins during the regular season — with five games left to play.
Arike Ogunbowale finished with 17 points, Awak Kuier had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks, and Alanna Smith scored 10 as all five starters for the Wings scored in double figures. Bueckers, coming off a 32-point performance on Sunday, had her 23rd 20-point game of the season.
Bridget Carleton and Karlie Samuelson each scored 14 points for Portland (15-23). Emily Engstler had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
Bueckers’ steal and pass to Ogunbowale for a wide-open 3-pointer extended Dallas’ lead to 84-60 midway through the fourth quarter. Bueckers and Ogunbowale each had three of Dallas’ 11 3-pointers.
Portland trailed by as many as 26 points and never led.
Up next
Fire: At Atlanta on Friday.
Wings: Host Connecticut on Sunday.
___
